What do you want to see more of?

What do you want to see more of on the forum?

  • Free to enter photo competitions

    Votes: 23 48.9%

  • Fundraising (pay to enter) photo competitions

    Votes: 14 29.8%

  • Other competitions that don't involve photos

    Votes: 14 29.8%

  • Online forum events - e.g. party nights with chat threads and games

    Votes: 19 40.4%

  • Offline forum events - e.g. forum meets

    Votes: 12 25.5%

  • More "how to" guides - e.g. daily care

    Votes: 14 29.8%

  • "How to" videos

    Votes: 27 57.4%

  • Fundraising raffles/auctions

    Votes: 19 40.4%

  • Other: (please give all ideas below)

    Votes: 1 2.1%
  • Total voters
    47
  • Poll closed .
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sport_billy said:
That’s a nice idea but we aren’t thinking of fundraising ideas just things to improve and make the forum busier with people.
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It would be a kinda of 2 birds 1 stone thing. People would see the stickers and join, making it busier, but that's in an ideal world. Probably wouldn't make a difference. I get what you say though, it is a fundraising idea 👍
 
sport_billy said:
Discoed or any type or any instant chat is not happening i’m afraid. It would be a nightmare to police but above all it would take traffic away from the forum board. But thanks for the suggestion.
Traffic dies, content dies, forum dies. Very simple equation unfortunately.
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What about the younger audience?
Forums are sort of dying down now days.
The times are changing.

Just my opinion. Don't wanna look like I'm causing arguments :(
 
Skullblits said:
What about the younger audience?
Forums are sort of dying down now days.
The times are changing.

Just my opinion. Don't wanna look like I'm causing arguments :(
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Everyone is welcome to their opinion. But the forum’s decision on this won’t change.
 
I guess my suggestion is more of a type of branching out thing.
We have a big group of knowledgeable people. We should spread out and make a solid presence on multiple platforms.

From my experience alot of ejits on Fb could use are knowledge.

Just my idea. But I've been know to have terrible ideas.

And I'm not entirely sure of a general user of how this whole forum is set up.
 
Skullblits said:
I guess my suggestion is more of a type of branching out thing.
We have a big group of knowledgeable people. We should spread out and make a solid presence on multiple platforms.

From my experience alot of ejits on Fb could use are knowledge.

Just my idea. But I've been know to have terrible ideas.

And I'm not entirely sure of a general user of how this whole forum is set up.
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I think as an "older" person, part of the forum's charm is its integrity and reliability, and how quickly posts by spammers and weirdos get taken down! I dont think this could be maintained in the realm of instant messaging, where people could post without thinking then volunteers would have to weed through all the random things... but that's just my opinion as an academic over 40 :)
 
There is a lot going on behind the scenes to give our membership, i.e. you and co, the smooth forum experience. We have a tech team to update software when needed. Unlike other forums, we strive to be advert free, so it doesn't spoil your use of the forum. All staff, including site admin are volunteers so although we give our time freely for our members, we haven't got the time or numbers to "police" other means, and if we have problems on other means, it detracts from all the hard work we've put in to make this forum the success story it is. :tu:
 
BossHogg said:
There is a lot going on behind the scenes to give our membership, i.e. you and co, the smooth forum experience. We have a tech team to update software when needed. Unlike other forums, we strive to be advert free, so it doesn't spoil your use of the forum. All staff, including site admin are volunteers so although we give our time freely for our members, we haven't got the time or numbers to "police" other means, and if we have problems on other means, it detracts from all the hard work we've put in to make this forum the success story it is. :tu:
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Yikes I didn't know all that.. Bravo

My last suggestion. Has anyone tried to approach Pets at home or anything like that and find out about getting the website advertised on there for a basis of help?

I wouldn't even know if that's possible. Maybe some of the company's we suggest alot might be willing to provide a link to here on thier websites.
 
Bill & Ted said:
I like it just as it is 😊
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I like it as it is too :nod:
I like the photo competitions, either the fundraisers (they're not too expensive for those on a tight budget) or just general posting, i also like the seasonal themed nights - Xmas, Easter, summer beach party, Halloween, bank holidays, etc.
I don't think we've had any this year so far? i wouldn't want them too often as i think they would lose their appeal, but the big holidays or 3-4 times a year would be great, they're always a good laugh :)) :tu:

i don't understand all this instant messaging, etc. i am a bear with little brain... i read, i post, i see what I've put & the advice on the whole is reliable, correct & friendly/supportive. i wouldn't want this to change... i'm a firm believer in 'if it ain't broke...don't fix it' maybe i'm stuck in a rut? but if the forum changed too much i feel it would push people away & probably be harder to moderate?
I'm not really into much technology & the forum feels a 'safe' place to be. Thank you to the volunteering staff :hug: who keep the forum running, up to date & well moderated.

i also love going to the meets arranged on here, but again i think the quarterly'ish meets are about right, it could get too expensive if they were too often.

no adverts on here is fantastic - i hate adverts!

I'm a very happy customer :nod:
 
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Skullblits said:
I guess my suggestion is more of a type of branching out thing.
We have a big group of knowledgeable people. We should spread out and make a solid presence on multiple platforms.

From my experience alot of ejits on Fb could use are knowledge.

Just my idea. But I've been know to have terrible ideas.

And I'm not entirely sure of a general user of how this whole forum is set up.
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I know and I get where you are coming from.

But you see if we went discord or some other instant chat software - advice would be given on there and slowly the main forum would die. And the advice would never be searchable by search engines so knowledge is lost. People have a health issue they google it and end up here. That doesn’t happen with instant message service

Forums are a repository of information and the majority will die out eventually even us. All we can do is slow the decline.
But to implement instant chat is a way of killing ourself earlier.
 
Skullblits said:
Yikes I didn't know all that.. Bravo

My last suggestion. Has anyone tried to approach Pets at home or anything like that and find out about getting the website advertised on there for a basis of help?

I wouldn't even know if that's possible. Maybe some of the company's we suggest alot might be willing to provide a link to here on thier websites.
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Yeah some advertising links by others is something worth looking into - thank you. Rescues etc... possible cage providers, cosy sellers. We could reciprocate on a specific link page thus still keeping the forum advert free. Nice idea
 
GPTV said:
I like it as it is too :nod:
I like the photo competitions, either the fundraisers (they're not too expensive for those on a tight budget) or just general posting, i also like the seasonal themed nights - Xmas, Easter, summer beach party, Halloween, bank holidays, etc.
I don't think we've had any this year so far? i wouldn't want them too often as i think they would lose their appeal, but the big holidays or 3-4 times a year would be great, they're always a good laugh :)) :tu:

i don't understand all this instant messaging, etc. i am a bear with little brain... i read, i post, i see what I've put & the advice on the whole is reliable, correct & friendly/supportive. i wouldn't want this to change... i'm a firm believer in 'if it ain't broke...don't fix it' maybe i'm stuck in a rut? but if the forum changed too much i feel it would push people away & probably be harder to moderate?
I'm not really into much technology & the forum feels a 'safe' place to be. Thank you to the volunteering staff :hug: who keep the forum running, up to date well moderated.

i also love going to the meets arranged on here, but again i think the quarterly'ish meets are about right, it could get too expensive if they were too often.

no adverts on here is fantastic - i hate adverts!

I'm a very happy customer :nod:
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That is lovely to hear, the forum is not going to change but we are having a push on more traditional social media platforms to drive traffic here and try and increase membership.
 
Hubby and I run a forum (regarding immigration and visas) and we had tried chats years ago (I'm not familiar with discord though). It made the forum quite slow plus a lot just started asking questions from there (and the private messages especially to admins and mods) or members just chatting instead of posting threads. We eventually took the chat option down. We even had a games area where members can play some interactive games. Made the forum soooo slow. So that was removed as well. Mind you both features made the members really entertained but it distracted them from the main purpose of the forum.
 
I really like the idea of forum car stickers, mugs, piggy bowls or other merchandise. I don't think auctioning, but maybe a link to a site 'shop' or ebay/etsy account. I don't know what would work technically. Funds raised could go to supporting the forum and rescues, and be used as prizes in competitions which could have an entry fee.
By the way, I'm a quality assurance manager, so I really appreciate the opportunity for feedback. Long live the forum!
 
I really love this forum! I’ve been a member on and off for over 10 years. I think it absolutely wonderful that it’s still going, and going strong! I use to be on a horse forum that shut down a few years ago after it slowly died out. It was a real shame but just goes to show how much work has to be put in my the admins and moderators to keep them running and active.
This forum hasn’t just been a place that I can chat away to other crazy guinea pig lovers about my furry friends. But also a place where I’ve been able to ask for personal advice or just needing to talk when feeling down, there is a lovely sense of community and family on here..which sadly and strangely can be hard to find in the ‘real’ world.
The Guinea pig information and knowledge is outstanding and I trust everything the informative staff suggest.

I’m finding it hard to think of anything that could possibly make the forum better, as it’s just so perfect. But I’ll keep thinking :)
 
Hannah_xx said:
I really love this forum! I’ve been a member on and off for over 10 years. I think it absolutely wonderful that it’s still going, and going strong! I use to be on a horse forum that shut down a few years ago after it slowly died out. It was a real shame but just goes to show how much work has to be put in my the admins and moderators to keep them running and active.
This forum hasn’t just been a place that I can chat away to other crazy guinea pig lovers about my furry friends. But also a place where I’ve been able to ask for personal advice or just needing to talk when feeling down, there is a lovely sense of community and family on here..which sadly and strangely can be hard to find in the ‘real’ world.
The Guinea pig information and knowledge is outstanding and I trust everything the informative staff suggest.

I’m finding it hard to think of anything that could possibly make the forum better, as it’s just so perfect. But I’ll keep thinking :)
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Thank you for your lovely comments. If you do think of anything you think "ooo wouldn't it be good if I logged in and saw..." Please do add :)
 
Not being a great fan of social media this is the only forum I belong to and the only other social media is specifically work related.
Therefore in my opinion this forum is excellent because it is so well run, good, well researched information, courteous, no-one is made to feel stupid for asking any question, non- judgemental, friendly, fun, meets are well organised so they feel safe, we can make real life friends as well as online friends, I can talk piggy with people who are interested, wonderful photos to drool over.
The volunteers who run the forum do a great job.
It’s safe - online safeguarding is taken seriously in practice as well as word.
 
What about a sub forum for the food section.

Where people post what they feed thier piggies. And people offer advice on it.

Then it perhaps won't fill up the actual food section with everyones what I feed my piggies.

Just a idea perhaps
 
I've voted for:
- Other competitions that don't involve photos -> I don't really know what other kind of competitions would be ok? but I think this way people who don't have piggies or simply aren't good at taking pictures of them would be able to join aswell.
- Online forum events - e.g. party nights with chat threads and games -> It's been a while since I could join one but I looooved them. It's a really nice way to talk to other members about silly stuff and just have a great time. I also think it's nice to keep them
- "How to" videos -> I would looove to see instructional videos with the forum piggies as the protagonists! I think aswell that it could be a good way of advertising the forum.
- Fundraising raffles/auctions -> I really like to participate on raffles/auctions if there is piggie related stuff in the auction/raffle, even more if the money goes to a good cause!
 
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